Compressor having improved sealing assembly

Abstract

A compressor may include a shell, a bearing housing assembly located within and secured to the shell, a compression mechanism supported on the bearing housing assembly, a partition extending over the compression mechanism, and an annular seal assembly. The partition may be fixed to the shell and may abut an axial end surface of the bearing housing assembly to control a maximum axial distance between the partition and the compression mechanism. The annular seal may be sealingly engaged with the compression mechanism and the bearing housing assembly and may have a generally L-shaped cross-section including a first leg extending generally laterally between the compression mechanism and the partition. The first leg may have an axial thickness that is greater than the maximum axial distance.

Description

FIELDThe present disclosure relates to compressors, and more specifically to a seal arrangement for a compressor.BACKGROUNDThis section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.Compressors may include a sealing arrangement to isolate differing pressure regions from one another. During compressor operation, pressure fluctuations may cause the sealing arrangement to be displaced, resulting in a leak path being formed between the differing pressure regions. More significant pressure fluctuations may result in a seal being deformed or otherwise damaged.SUMMARYThis section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.A compressor may include a shell, a bearing housing assembly located within and secured to the shell, a compression mechanism supported on the bearing housing assembly, a partition extending over the compression mechanism, and an annular...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

A compressor may alternatively include a shell and a bearing housing assembly located within the shell and secured relative thereto. A compression mechanism may be supported within the shell on the bearing housing assembly and may include a first discharge passage. A partition may extend over the compression mechanism and may include a second discharge passage in communication with the first discharge passage, the partition being fixed to the shell and abutting an axial end surface of the bearing housing assembly to control a maximum axial distance between the partition and the compression mechanism. A first annular seal may be located in a discharge pressure region of the compressor and may be disposed around the first and second discharge openings and sealingly engaged with the compression mechanism and the partition to isolate the discharge pressure region from a lower pressure region of the compressor. The maximum axial distance may prevent radial displacement of the first annular seal beyond a first predetermined location.

The first annular seal may include a minimum axial thickness region having an axial thickness that is greater than the maximum axial thickness. The minimum axial thickness region may prevent radial displacement of the annular seal beyond the first predetermined location. The compression mechanism may include a side wall, the first annular seal being sealingly engaged with the side wall and the partition, the maximum axial distance being defined between an end of the side wall and the partition to prevent radial displacement of the first annular seal radially outward from the side wall.

The maximum axial distance may prevent radial displacement of the second annular seal beyond a second predetermined location.

The compression mechanism may additionally include a side wall, the second annular seal being sealingly engaged with the side wall and the partition, the maximum axial distance being defined between an end of the side wall and the partition to prevent radial displacement of the second annular seal radially outward from the side wall. The compression mechanism may additionally include a non-orbiting scroll member, the first annular seal being sealingly engaged with the non-orbiting scroll member.

Problems solved by technology

During compressor operation, pressure fluctuations may cause the sealing arrangement to be displaced, resulting in a leak path being formed between the differing pressure regions.

More significant pressure fluctuations may result in a seal being deformed or otherwise damaged.

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